PORTLAND, Ore. - Zach Fisher scattered five hits over seven innings and
Justin Nakaishi worked the final two innings without allowing a hit as
Washington State blanked the host Portland Pilots 7-0 in a non-conference
baseball game Thursday.

Fisher (1-0) picked up his first decision of the season for the Cougars
(22-27), while starter Tony Blackhurst (3-6) took the loss before leaving
the game in the sixth inning. Noel Clark and Josh Cram followed Blackhurst
to the mound for Portland (21-27).

The Cougars made the most of their seven hits, especially early in the
game. In the first inning Ray Hattenburg singled home WSU's first run,
scoring Shawn Stevenson, who opened the game with a walk.

In the second frame freshman Evan Hecker doubled home Ryan Smith and Boyd
Robertson, while in the third Zach Bode hit his ninth home run, a shot over
the right field fence that scored Hattenburg, on base after being hit by a
Blackhurst pitch.

WSU's final two runs came in the sixth when the Cougars chased Portland's
starting pitcher. Jason Grove did the damage with a two-run single with the
bases loaded.

Fisher, a freshman who a year ago at this time was pitching for South
Kitsap High, entered the game with just 17 innings to his credit. Against
Portland in his second start of the year and ninth appearance, he never
gave up more than one hit in any inning.

In fact, Fisher was nearly untouchable after working through some
opening-game jitters. Portland leadoff hitter Gavin Hare opened the Pilot's
half of the first inning with a double down the left field line and Ryan
Powell then worked Fisher for a walk. With Nate Hare at the plate, the
Pilot runners pulled off a double steal to put Fisher to the test.

The Cougar hurler proved he was ready for the challenge, striking out
Hare. Steve Jackson then ground out and Brendan Wood fouled out to Grove
down the right field line..

The Cougar starter then went on to set Portland down in order in the second
and third innings. In the fourth a double play wiped out Portland's only
base runner, while in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings Fisher stranded
one runner in each frame.

Nakaishi, in his eleventh appearance of the season allowed just one walk in
the last two innings while striking out three.

The two teams battled through a 42-minute rain delay in the fourth inning
after WSU built up a 5-0 lead. The Cougars return to action Friday with the
first of three games over three days at Oregon State.